Maritime Channel

GE Gas Turbines Boost Power

GE Marine is the world’s leading manufacturer of aeroderivative marine gas turbines ranging from 4.5 to 52.7 megawatts. As the prime mover of choice, GE gas turbines boost power for mechanical or hybrid electric drive applications. These reliable engines provide top-end speed, and satisfy needs for low weight, ultra-low maintenance with unmatched availability and the lowest noise signature. GE gas turbine applications are equally suited for naval generator sets in all electric drive ship applications. GE is the only company that offers gas turbine and electric drive propulsion systems for ships to meet power and propulsion needs.

GE is a long-standing equipment supplier to the United States Navy and naval and commercial marine customers the world over. Currently there are more than 1,450 GE gas turbines logging over 16 million hours, serving 35 navies globally. GE engines power some of the world’s most sophisticated surface combatants and can be found on 600 naval ships for 100 military ship programs. All GE gas turbines are backed by complete maintenance design and global support.

GE’s gas turbine portfolio (ISO standard conditions) includes:

LM500, used on 100% of the world’s military gas turbine-powered patrol boats, provides 4.6 MW. Currently 160 marine LM500 gas turbines have been delivered or are on order.

LM2500, GE’s most popular gas turbine with over 1,200 engines in marine service worldwide, is rated at 25.1 MW with an outstanding 99.6% availability.

LM2500+ gas turbine provides commercial and military marine users with 30.2 MW, and a simple cycle thermal efficiency of 39%.

LM2500+G4 produces 35.3 MW; 27 naval gas turbines have been delivered or are on order.

LM6000 is GE’s most powerful aeroderivative gas turbine and is available in two power sizes: 46.1 and 52.7 MW. Following thorough certification testing, the LM6000PG marine module is certified by Lloyd’s Register and RINA Services. The engine is nearly identical to the industrial variant which has ~1,300 units in operation logging more than 33 million operating hours while achieving 99.7% reliability.

GE provides 97% of the U.S. Navy’s propulsion gas turbines and is a market leader in the international community. The LM2500+G4 gas turbine powers 20 FREMM frigates for the French, Italian, Moroccan and Egyptian navies; the first ship was commissioned in 2012. The LM2500+G4 will power seven new Italian Navy Pattugliatori Polivalenti d’Altura (PPA) multipurpose offshore patrol ships; GE is responsible for the electrical system integration of the hybrid system. The LM2500 also is used by the German Navy on the Baden-Wurttemberg F125-class frigate, Turkey’s MILGEM corvette, India’s P17A frigate and Thailand’s new frigate programs. GE’s LM500 gas turbines power South Korea’s newest Chamsuri II class PKX-B patrol boat.

GE meets the ever-changing needs of its customers via advances to existing gas turbine equipment or the introduction of new technologies to improve overall performance. GE’s lightweight composite LM2500 gas turbine enclosure is fully qualified and successful shock tests are complete. The U.S. Navy DDG program will be the first with a unit delivery in 2019. Benefits include walls that are 50% lighter; acoustics improved by 60%; wall temperature is decreased 25°F to 50°F; lifecycle cost is reduced by the elimination of steel components; and access for sailors is improved by taller doors that are also 60% lighter.

Electric gas turbine starters have been delivered on LM2500 family gas turbines for the Italian Navy’s PPA and India’s P17 programs, and the LM500 gas turbines used for South Korea’s PKX-B programs. These starters weigh 6,500 pounds less and there is >70% volume reduction over hydraulic skids.

GE has shortened the LM2500+ and LM2500+G4 modules so that all three LM2500 modules have the same length and footprint. This gives ship designers optimum flexibility in selecting only as much power needed while making it easy for upgrades.

The interest in hybrid electric or full electric drive systems is increasing to meet cruise speed and ship electrical power load for weapons, radar and cooling. GE is the only company providing both gas turbine and hybrid systems equipment (U.S. Navy’s LHA 8 amphibious ship and Italy’s PPA patrol light frigate). GE’s gas turbine generator sets provide electrical power for the LHD amphibious assault ships in the Spanish Navy and Royal Australian Navy fleets, and thousands of units in power and oil and gas applications.

GE’s split casing compressor and power turbine design allows for in-situ maintenance such as blade changeout after a foreign object damage event or trim balance. This feature often makes turbine removals unnecessary, thus saving navies millions of dollars a year and weeks/months of ship availability.

With a global installed base and service network, operators can be confident of exceptional OEM support wherever they sail. To ensure optimum fleet readiness, GE’s customized in-service support agreements provide predictable gas turbine maintenance costs and lower total cost of ownership.

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